Clarke and Dawe wrap up the week in politics

KERRY O'BRIEN: And now, John Clarke and Bryan Dawe working over the week in politics, and there was a lot to work over; this time, with the Prime Minister.

(John Clarke plays John Howard and Bryan Dawe plays the interviewer.)

INTERVIEWER: Mr Howard, thanks for your time.

JOHN HOWARD: Very good to be with you, Bryan, and thank you.

INTERVIEWER: Can I take you back, Prime Minister, to this decision of yours a few days ago to veto the sale of the Snowy Hydro.

JOHN HOWARD: Yes, I think we made the right decision there, Bryan. A very important issue of public equity. A very important issue.

INTERVIEWER: Which you just noticed at the last minute, didn't you?

JOHN HOWARD: Well, there was a fair build-up of public pressure on that issue, Bryan, and, of course, we've got to listen to that. We've got to listen to the people.

INTERVIEWER: And, of course, it had the benefit of shafting two State Labor part-governments as well.

JOHN HOWARD: Bryan, as I said, I think public equity was the issue and I think the right decision was made. A very important issue.

INTERVIEWER: So, what's going to happen to the river?

JOHN HOWARD: What river?

INTERVIEWER: Well, the Snowy. The fear was the river system would be destroyed by the public sector.

JOHN HOWARD: Well, that's not going to happen now, Bryan. That's not going to happen.

INTERVIEWER: So, it's going to be destroyed by the public sector, is it?

JOHN HOWARD: Well, not really my department, what happens to the river, Bryan. I mean, the important thing was that we listened to the people. We were asked to listen to the people and we listened to the people.

INTERVIEWER: People power.

JOHN HOWARD: People power, Bryan! Very, very important. Victory for people power.

INTERVIEWER: And will you be listening to people on other issues as well?

JOHN HOWARD: Well, I listen to these bloody - to people all the time, Bryan.

INTERVIEWER: Well, the GST, they didn't want that?

JOHN HOWARD: Well, you don't ask turkeys whether they want an early Christmas, do you, Bryan? Let's be sensible.

INTERVIEWER: Well, they didn't want to sale of Telstra either.

JOHN HOWARD: Well, of course they didn't, Bryan - they owned it.

INTERVIEWER: Yes, well, they didn't want to go to war in Iraq.

JOHN HOWARD: Well, they would have, if our argument had made any sense at all.

INTERVIEWER: OK, and now you've announced an inquiry into nuclear power.

JOHN HOWARD: We have, Bryan. A very, very important inquiry.

INTERVIEWER: And this is an independent inquiry?

JOHN HOWARD: Open and very independent - fiercely independent inquiry, yes.

INTERVIEWER: What is it called?

JOHN HOWARD: It's called 'How Can we Best Introduce Nuclear Power Right Across the Country by Tuesday?'

INTERVIEWER: And who's running it?

JOHN HOWARD: Good point, Bryan. Good point. This is run by people who want it introduced by Monday.

INTERVIEWER: By Monday? So they are unbiased.

JOHN HOWARD: Well, the point that I'm making, Bryan, is that they haven't been appointed to this commission simply because they agree with the outcome.

INTERVIEWER: How do you know what the outcome of the inquiry is?

JOHN HOWARD: Have you seen who's running it?

INTERVIEWER: Yes, Ziggy Switkowski.

JOHN HOWARD: I rest my case, Bryan.

INTERVIEWER: So there's going to be a customer service number you can ring -

JOHN HOWARD: No, no, there is no customer service number, Bryan. That was his previous job. I think he'll go pretty well in this role. I think he'll go very well in this role.

INTERVIEWER: Will it be hearing evidence, the inquiry?

JOHN HOWARD: Oh, yes, a lot of expert testimony.

INTERVIEWER: Who from?

JOHN HOWARD: From the people who are running it. They are the experts. That's what they are there for.

INTERVIEWER: Save a bit of time.

JOHN HOWARD: Well, Bryan, you know, we've got a result - let's get on with the inquiry. Let's have it.

INTERVIEWER: Prime Minister, thanks for your time.

JOHN HOWARD: Yes, always good to see you, Bryan.

INTERVIEWER: Thanks, guys. Taking a bit of flak over this decision to override the ACT on the gay marriages -

JOHN HOWARD: Yes, well, the media people: you're a bunch of clowns, Bryan. I've seen this reported as some kind of anti-gay thing. It isn't.

INTERVIEWER: What isn't?

JOHN HOWARD: The 'We Hate Gay' legislation we're bringing in.

INTERVIEWER: Really?

JOHN HOWARD: I've seen us described as homophobic. I don't even know what it means. What absolute crap. I'm sick of listening to this stuff.

INTERVIEWER: You just hate gay people?

JOHN HOWARD: No, no, no, we hate a lot of people. Not just gay people - how long you got? - we're a bit iffy about overseas people; women: there's your trouble.